What does disability mean? An exhaustive answer to this question might be hard to find. It can be thought of as an umbrella term, encompassing many different realities and perceptions around it. The matter of perception is, in fact, quite central to the question: a disability is not necessarily seen by others. This might be because of bias, or simply because the nature of it isn’t manifest to the outside world. Even disabilities that can be seen do not always present themselves with the same intensity: the use of a wheelchair could be permanent or temporary, necessary to face hostile infrastructures, or superfluous in a different context.
All of this is to say that, while the experience of disability (and individual disabilities in their singular instances) is varied, complex, and continuously subject to mutations, it is hard to find representations that are equally nuanced. Your experience as a disabled person might have been completely overlooked, and even discarded, by popular media. With the rise of AI, these stereotypes have only spread further, limiting standard perceptions of disability to a wheelchair, as a stand-alone, all-encompassing symbol.
Disability Visibility: First-Person Stories from the Twenty-first Century
Alice Wong has been preoccupied with this issue for quite some time. First as a Research Associate, then as an activist and author, her work has attempted to diversify the discourse on disabilities and to amplify the voices of those who want their stories to be heard. This long-standing mission has culminated in the past years in a book that we highly suggest you add to your To Be Read list: ‘Disability Visibility: First-Person Stories from the Twenty-first Century’.
Wong curated a collection of several essays, short stories, and real-life accounts about their personal, lived experiences of their own disabilities, and how they relate that to wider issues of accessibility and awareness in their social contexts. It is a compelling piece of non-fiction, where the multiple authors discern what it means to live unseen, but also how crucial it is to keep pushing to have their voices heard.
In the spirit of the book, Alice Wong has also launched a parallel project: the Disability Visibility Project (DVP). This is ‘an online community dedicated to creating, sharing, and amplifying disability media and culture’ (Wong, 2016). Its blog is currently rich with entries, spanning from chronic pain and freelancing to the disability culture phenomenon, and it has given voice to so many disabled people and to their unique experiences.
Contributing to the discourse
If you found Wong’s book and project to be a good read, you may have considered what it would be like to have your own, specific story out there. You might want to disclose what it means to experience the world with your disability or share your own views on how to generate more informative discussions around accessibility. We want you to know that you can!
Scope, a charity committed to campaigning for better attitudes towards disability, has been looking for new voices to contribute to their research. There are many ways to get involved, from volunteering to donating to the cause. However, if you’re specifically interested in having your experience heard, you can sign up to join their Research Panel. Through surveys, interviews and discussion groups, you will be able to disclose your unique understanding of your own lived experience and contribute to Scope’s policy campaigns and their overall mission. If this sounds like an interesting opportunity to you, head to their website and register now!
Your voice is always welcome at KCLSU. Remember to check out our events for Disability History Month and our news section, to find out how we can support you during your time as a student!